Staying Within Reasonable Bounds

Day 325: Late last fall, the trellis supporting the white-flowered Akebia vine broke about halfway up the wall. I figured it was as good a time as any to prune back the vine to a reasonable height. The white one is my pollinator. I have been unable to get it to set fruit, although whether the problem lies with it or with the male flowers of the purple vine is uncertain. The purple males produce very little pollen, and it can be assumed that what they do produce is infertile, but in any event, transferring pollen from the white male flowers to the purple females works. That said, the vines of either are very vigorous. Pruning them to stay within reasonable bounds makes harvesting the peculiar fruits of this particular horticultural labour much easier.